KIERA’S POVLike a flurry of arrows, his words pierced my heart, hitting every nerve connected to it. If there’s anything I dreaded more than my life back home, it was the haunting memories of the horrors I endured in that hellhole. It was a nightmare.He released a heavy sigh before entering the car and waited as I walked cautiously to the car, my legs trembling.As I settled into the car, beads of tears formed in my eyes, however, the deep measured breath he took was enough to relay the magnitude of his simmering anger.After a few seconds of regaining his composure, he started the engine and drove off. The oppressive silence and tension in the car were almost unbearable, and I silently prayed we’d arrive at our destination quickly.At last, we pulled up at an estate, and he swiftly hopped out of the car and opened the door for me. He stretched out his hand and I placed mine in his, my gaze pinned on the floor.“Hey,” he said gently, lifting my chin with his finger.“I’m sorry I la
MIGUEL’S POVI sat in the dimly lit room, smoke curling around me as I took a long drag from my cigarette. I gulped down a glass of whiskey relishing the fiery sensation as it coursed down my throat. Just as I flicked the ash from my cigarette, the door swung open, and Joe walked in. The look on his face was evident enough for me to know that he had something to say.“Speak up, before I lose my patience,” I said.Clearing his throat, his voice came forth, “Kiera showed up at the wedding venue.”Her name pulled a string in my heart, and I simply nodded and poured myself another round of whiskey.If I’ve ever felt any form of affection towards any woman, it would be Kiera. Cold as my heart may be, she fascinated me. Her beauty, innocence, her perception of the world, and everything about her made her special. But the affection I had for her was no match compared to the hatred I have for Gabriel. Despite the fact that our families have been sworn rivals for ages, the bastard was also res
GABRIEL’S POV“What?”She withdrew from my grasp, her eyes blazing with disbelief.I had certainly taken her by surprise. I realized that she would never feel comfortable unless I opened up to her. I needed her for so many reasons, and I didn’t want her escaping again—she had a knack for that. So, what better way to keep her than to ask her to marry me?“Are you out of your mind? I just told you I don’t want any part in this, and you’re asking me to marry you?” Her gaze narrowed, disbelief etched on her face.I let out a deep breath, trying to maintain my composure. “I need you to be calm.”“How can I be calm? You just dropped a bomb on me!” She protested, her feet tapping anxiously against the floor.“Do you find me so unattractive? Don’t I possess the qualities you seek in a man?”She shot me a glare, her voice sharp.“It has nothing to do with that. I don’t know anything about you. I don’t trust you, let alone love you.”“No one’s talking about love here,” I replied, frustration bu
GABRIEL’S POVMy gun was still pointed at him as he took a step forward.“One more step, and I’ll put a bullet between your f*cking eyes.”Staring narrowly, I read every twitch his body made.“Who the hell are you?” I roared, my voice echoing in the building.He hesitated. Next, I saw his hand creeping towards his pocket and I clicked the gun as a warning, my gaze unwavering on him.All at once, he pulled out a small pouch and flung it towards me, and it landed at my feet.“That’s just a fraction of Miguel’s diamonds,” he said, his voice trembling slightly.What? How did he get his hands on Miguel’s diamonds? Unless he…I exchanged glances with my informant, skepticism etched across his face as his brows knitted together.I lowered myself to pick up the pouch, the gun still trained on the stranger. With a flick of my wrist, I opened it, and I couldn’t suppress my shock as I caught a glimmer of the diamonds.I raised my eyes to meet his gaze, “How did you find me?” I questioned eagerly
KIERA’S POV“Wow… I didn’t realize it was free-the-body day!!”He said, sarcasm dripping in his tone.I froze, my heart doing dangerous flip-backs in my chest. Why the heck was he still staring?Frantically, I reached for the bed covers, wrapping them around my body, as embarrassment gnawed at my insides.“Have some decency and look away!” I shouted, my cheeks burning.“Decency? From someone who sneaks into my room uninvited?” He shot back.“This is my space. You can’t just barge in without knocking.”“Please, don’t flatter yourself because I'm not moved by you at all. You’re more like a piece of log to me,” he said, his casual arrogance igniting a fire in my chest.“I hate to break it to you, but the feeling is mutual,” I served him, crossing my arms defiantly.He scoffed, shaking his head in a manner that made me want to smack him in the head.“What do you want?” I queried, my tone icy.“Gabriel asked me to take you shopping.”My face twisted into a frown, “Why would he ask you when
My heart pounded frantically as the car screeched to an abrupt halt.“What happened?” I asked, gripping the seatbelt tightly as if it was my lifeline.“Checking the tire pressure,” Damien muttered, his brow furrowed. “Looks like we’ve got a flat tire.”Before I could respond, he flung open the door and hopped out. I watched him inspect the rear tire, his hands moving with anxious precision.When he finally returned, his expression was grave. He pulled out his phone and dialed. “Lewis, we’ve got a flat tire on Oak Street. We need another car, ASAP.”He ended the call abruptly and dialed again.“We’ve got a problem!”He said, glancing at me, and from his tone, I could tell it was Gabriel on the line. “We’ll be on our way once Lewis brings another car. I just wanted to keep you in the loop about the setback.”Their conversation dragged on for a while with bantering in between, and he finally ended the call.I leaned back against my seat, letting out a long, exasperated sigh.“This day j
DAMIEN’S POVPerfect timing!Just when Kiera and I were finally building a connection, these urchins chose to crash our dinner.I had been tough on her, but maybe that was just a wall I built to guard myself against her charms. She had awakened something within me from the first time I caught her sneaking a glance into my room. While I was uncertain about the dynamics of her relationship with Gabriel, one thing stood out: Kiera was my kind of woman—Fierce, attractive, smart, and drop-dead gorgeous. I glanced at Kiera, her relaxed demeanor cracking under the weight of the tension.“Who are they?” She whispered, a mix of curiosity and fear coating her words.“Just stay calm.”I muttered, my eyes narrowing as I focused on the men. Their swagger was a toxic blend of arrogance and menace.In an instant, the shortest one, a hideous figure with a steely gaze, stopped in front of our table, prompting me to rise to my full height.“Well, well, if it isn't one of the Nyx Princes,” he snarled.H
ELISE’S POVI wasn’t fully asleep when Miguel entered the room. The scent of alcohol clung to him, and I wondered where he had been all day. We had barely spent time together since we got married; he was either too busy or too tired.I peeked at him through my half-closed eyelids as he stripped off his clothes and headed into the bathroom.The door clicked shut, and for a moment, silence swallowed our space whole.Then, his phone chimed. I darted my gaze toward the bathroom, my heart racing as it chimed again.Curiosity clawed at me. What had he been up to? I reached for his phone, the screen lighting up with a message from Joe:[There’s been no sign of Kiera.]Suddenly my heart tumbled, as several lines appeared on my forehead.Why would Miguel be looking for Kiera? Contempt simmered within me as I thought of her. She had always been papa’s perfect girl, his golden child, while I was left in her shadow. Despite all the hell Mom and I put her through, Kiera always seemed to come out on
GABRIEL’S POVThe morning light streamed through the curtains, casting a golden glow over the bed. My eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the soft golden glow. The first thing I saw was her—Kiera, lying beside me, her face serene in sleep. In that moment, I was struck by her beauty. She was stunning in a way that made my chest tighten. Her hair tumbled in soft waves around her face, and her lips, slightly parted, looked so inviting. Watching the rise and fall of her chest was hypnotic, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away.For so long, I had held back my feelings for her, but the incident with Linda had pushed me over the edge. I had confessed my feelings without thinking, and ever since, Kiera had been acting a bit awkward around me.I knew she wouldn’t be thrilled about sharing a room, but I craved the closeness, the intimacy of just being in the same space. When Abuela suggested it, I felt like I had hit the jackpot. I pretended to argue against the idea, but deep down, I knew there was
DAMIEN’S POVI tossed and turned, the sheets twisting around me like a noose. Kiera’s face haunted me—her laughter, her touch, the way her eyes sparkled, her smile. But that wasn’t what kept me awake all night. No, it was the thought of her with Gabriel.I couldn’t shake the image of them together. The way he looks at her makes it seem like she is the last drop of whiskey in a dry bar. What if something happened between them last night? Did she look at him the way she looks at me? Did she touch him? The mere thought made my stomach burn.I flung the covers off and swung my legs over the side of the bed. Do I trust Kiera? The two of them in the same room felt like dangling cheese in front of a mouse—an invitation to disaster, too tempting, too dangerous. Even if Kiera held her ground, I knew that smooth-talking bastard Gabriel could charm the skin off an apple.Just as I was about to drown in my thoughts, a knock echoed through the room.I barely had time to collect my thoughts when Be
KIERA’S POVAfter dinner, the room felt like a chamber in hell, simmering with unspoken words. Gabriel and I barely spoke to each other, and I could tell she sensed the tension in the air, but she said nothing, her silence almost deafening.Gabriel eventually retreated to his room, leaving me across from Abuela, who was diligently knitting a scarf, her needles clicking like a clock.“Mrs. Vanessa?” I finally ventured, my voice almost swallowed by the silence.“Oh, come on, dear. We’re past the formalities, aren’t we? You’ll soon be my daughter-in-law, so you might as well start calling me Abuela,” she replied, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of her lips.I forced a smile back, the warmth barely reaching my eyes, “Okay, Abuela. Thank you for the amazing meal. It’s been a long day, so I think I’ll call it a night.”Her gaze lifted, eyes sparkling with mischief that sent a shiver down my spine, “Rest well, my dear.”As I nodded, my heart raced with a flutter of anxiety.Upon our ar
ELISE’S POVI blinked rapidly, trying to process Hannah's words, “What did you just say?” I leaned in closer, my brows knitting together like two angry caterpillars.“Umm… Miss… Miss Freya is here,” Hannah stuttered, her confidence crumbling under my glare.“Are you stupid?” I bit out, my voice climbing an octave as I raised my hand, nearly striking her across the face. She flinched, stepping back as if I were a live wire and I halted mid-motion, catching myself just in time.I took a deep breath, my lips tightening into a thin line as I let my hand drop, “Where is she?” I demanded.“She’s, um… she…” Hannah cleared her throat, her finger awkwardly pointing toward the stairs as she scratched her neck, a nervous gesture that made my irritation flare.“Speak up already, you moron!” I snapped, my impatience palpable.Her eyes widened in fear, and she blurted, “She’s in the living room!”I crossed my arms tightly over my chest, my nails digging into my skin as I fought to keep my composure
ELISE’S POVI lay sprawled across the bed, feeling like a marionette whose strings had been cut, my body still throbbing from the wild, brutal passion of the previous night.The clock on the nightstand read 10 a.m., but the weight of my exhaustion kept me anchored to the sheets. Miguel had transformed me into his sex toy, exploring his dirtiest darkest fantasies. I knew I desperately wanted to be fucked, and touched by him, but I never signed up for this.Last night, he had bound all my limbs to the bedposts. The ball gag he used stifled my cries, rendering my protests useless. He fucked me till I almost passed out.When he was done, I tried to voice my discomfort, but he simply asked, “Are you tired of being in this marriage?” I didn’t need an encyclopedia to decipher what he meant. I realized then that I had only two choices: accept this new reality or contemplate the unthinkable—leaving him. But escape wasn’t an option I could entertain; I had too much to lose. So, I buried my feel
ABUELA’S POV“Catherine, would you be kind as to fetch my phone?” I called out from the backyard, the relentless ringing grating against my peaceful mid-morning.I took a deep breath and sipped my mango juice, feeling its coolness wash over me while I waited for her to arrive.“Here you go, ma’am,” she said, her voice warm as she handed me the phone.To my surprise, it wasn’t Gabriel’s name lighting up the screen but Rafael’s.A smile blossomed on my face, genuine and bright. I glanced at Catherine, a conspiratorial grin breaking free as I mouthed, “It’s Rafael,” followed by a soft giggle.“Hi, Mom,” he said, his voice like a soothing melody that instantly warmed my heart.“If I didn’t know you better, I’d swear you’ve forgotten all about your mother,” I teased, though my heart ached a bit as I said it.“Mom, that’s not fair! I’ve been swamped!” He replied, a hint of defensiveness creeping into his tone.“Swamped, indeed, but surely not too busy to give your mother a call? It’s been o
KIERA’S POVThe next thing that followed was a chortle of laughter, uncontainable until I was practically doubled over.Gabriel squinted in confusion, clearly thrown off as I continued to laugh maniacally, clutching my stomach.“O… OmG… that..” I gasped, still pointing at him as if he were the punch line to a joke.“That’s the most… the most hilarious thing I’ve ever heard.”But as my laughter began to fade, I noticed the serious look on his face, and suddenly my giggles felt inappropriate like I was laughing at a funeral. An awkward silence settled between us, and I was left fidgeting with my hair, my lips pressing together as I cleared my throat, avoiding his piercing gaze.“You.. umm.. you’re not joking?” I finally managed to ask, my eyes flitting around like a trapped bird looking for a way out.“Why would I want to joke with something as delicate as this?” He replied, his voice steady, almost too steady.My heart tumbled into my stomach, it was as if he’d thrown a grenade into my
KIERA’S POVI sat in the car scrolling absentmindedly through my phone yet my, fingers drummed nervously against my thigh, each tap a countdown to my rising anxiety.Every few moments, I shot a glance at the entrance, hoping to catch sight of Gabriel, but time seemed to stretch endlessly. What could possibly be taking so long? Was Linda okay? Or worse, was Gabriel in trouble? My stomach twisted, and I shifted restlessly in my seat, feeling like a lion trapped in a cage.Just then, my phone buzzed, jolting me from my spiraling thoughts. I looked down to see a message from Damien.[Hey]I replied almost instantly, my heart racing.[Hey][Are you okay?]His concern dripped through the screen, and I typed back rapidly, desperate for the connection.[Kinda][If it’s about what I said earlier, I’m sorry for catching you off guard, but I’m not sorry for telling you how I feel about you.]A smile broke through my worry, warming my heart. I could almost picture him, those charming eyes glintin
GABRIEL’S POV“Are you kidding me? You want us to tell her we met at a club? What would she think about me?” Kiera asked, her eyes wide, a mixture of disbelief etched across her face. “Or maybe we could say we bumped into each other at a coffee shop and you spilled coffee on me,” I suggested.“Abuela must know that you never get your own coffees! Besides, why must it be me who spills coffee on you? What happened to you spilling coffee on me?” Her tone was a dramatic cocktail of sincerity and jest.“Fine, let’s toss that idea. How about we tell her I was in some sort of trouble and you saved me?” she countered, trying to keep the tone light.“Abuela would want details, and we wouldn’t want to give her the slightest hint about how we really met,” I shot back, noticing her brow knitting together as she pondered.I sighed heavily, resting my head against the car seat. My thoughts were a chaotic storm.“Wait, what if we say we met on a dating site? It seems realistic and doesn’t raise any